Donald Harris

Donald S. Harris, 96, of Chambersburg, passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2018. Born March 23, 1922 in Waterbury, CT, he was the son of the late Ralph W. and Clara Harris. He was a Staff Sergeant in the 98th Infantry Division during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater and the Occupation in Japan. After the war he served with a special task force of the 2nd Armored Division on Adak in the Aleutians, testing tanks and other materiel in field conditions. After his service, he served a number of years in the Army Reserve as a First Lieutenant in the Infantry.

After graduation from Yale University, he entered the US Foreign Service and served in a number of positions in the Department of State, the Pentagon, and abroad in Glasgow, Scotland; Hamburg, Frankfurt, Bremen, and West Berlin, Germany; in Israel and in Indonesia. While in West Berlin he served as the Public Safety Officer of the US Mission Berlin in charge of the police and as its representative to the Tripartite Commandatura responsible for the security of West Berlin. From 1981-1986, Mr. Harris was responsible for producing the Annual Country Human Rights Reports for the East Asian and Pacific Islands countries to submit to Congress by the Department of State on January 31st of each year.

Donald was a special man. An avid gardener, he improved the garden in every home where he lived. He immersed himself and his children in learning the culture and language of every country in which served. He was a masterful ballroom dancer, a golfer, nature lover, and was dedicated to the many cats he adopted.
Beloved husband of the late Jane McBride Harris, whom he married on Christmas Day 1947; Loving father of: Maureen (Hiro Uyama) McCracken of Herndon, VA, Jeanne Wardlaw of Herndon, VA, and Dirck Harris (deceased); Grandfather of: Cadence McCracken, Jane Wardlaw and Erin Wardlaw; Father-in-law of Jane Edwards of Annandale, VA; and brother of Miriam Caoutte (deceased).
Reverend Scott Bowerman will officiate a memorial service in the Central Presbyterian Church of Chambersburg at 11:30 AM on Friday, October 19, 2018, preceded by one hour of visitation. Reverend Russell Heiland will officiate a memorial service at Unity of Fairfax in Oakton, VA at 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 21, 2018.

Memorial contributions may be made to the White Memorial Conservation Center, 80 Whitehall Rd., P.O. Box 368, Litchfield, CT 06759-0368. Arrangements are entrusted to Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA.